Five Foods That Provide A Shot Of Energy To Your Body

It seems like in today’s rat-race-paced-world, we are always looking for that thing that is going to keep us going a little longer, this is evidenced by the massive surge of unhealthy energy drinks springing up all over the place.

For some reason, people always look to unhealthy sources and chemicals to boost their energy levels, when nature has provided everything we need.

What if there were a better way to give your body what it needs, without all the sugar and caffeine?

With these 5 super foods, you can be guaranteed to have energy all day long.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia

Yes, the same thing that you spread over clay pots and grew into funny animals is now a superfood and a really amazing one at that.
A 2 tablespoon Serving Gives You:
• 117 Calories
• 8.3 g fiber
• 4 f Protein
• 7.4 g Fat

According to Bodybuilding.com, not only do Chia seeds have a pretty solid nutrition profile, but they also contain:

• All of the essential amino acids necessary for muscle growth
• 5 times the omega-3 fatty acids than ¼ cup of walnuts
• 30% more antioxidants than blueberries
• As much potassium as 1/3 of a banana
• Twice the iron and magnesium of spinach

Flax Seed

Flax is a small round seed that has been cultivated on earth since Babylon. They were touted as a super food in Babylonian times, and it turns out the king of Babylon may have been onto something.

Web M. D. notes that Flax seed is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have heart health benefits. They have a high fiber content and are an excellent source of antioxidants. Altogether, these little seeds pack a powerful punch. The best part about them is that you can grind them up and put them in just about anything.

Cacao
While I wish I could say that all chocolate is created equal, it simply isn’t. The darker, the better, and anything over 60% Cacao is really what we are shooting for.
The Orlando Sentinel notes that cocoa is high in some essential minerals that you may not be getting anywhere else.
1. Magnesium: Used in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body it helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function
2. Manganese: Is Vital in forming connective tissues, bone, blood-clotting factors and sex hormones
3. Zinc: Found in cells throughout the body and is needed for the immune system to work properly
4. Iron: An essential element in the production of blood. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues

Not Your Grandma’s Porridge
Oatmeal may not sound like the most appealing breakfast that you can have, but it can be one of the most energizing meals of the day. Especially if you take the time to add some of the extras that can really give you an edge.

While oatmeal on its own is a high-fiber food and a filling meal it will provide you with sustainable and stable energy, oatmeal with little tweaks can give you an amazing super bowl of power breakfast to power you through your toughest days.
Try adding any combinations of these to your oatmeal to add some extra punch.

• Chia Seeds
• Ground Flax Seed
• Cocoa Nibs
• Any berry (low sugar and high antioxidant fruits are powerhouses of nutrition)

Water
While technically not food, water is listed by Shape Magazine as one of the best things we take into our bodies for energy.

Water helps curb dehydration, which is a primary source of fatigue. Along with fatigue, many other symptoms of dehydration can occur like headaches, hunger, irritability, and the list gets worse as the dehydration gets worse.
A recent study released in the American Journal of Public Health showed that more than half of all children and adolescents in the U.S are not drinking enough water. If the kids are not drinking it, you can almost bet that the parents aren’t either.
Drinking water can improve energy, cognitive function, circulation, metabolism, temperature regulation, and waste removal processes. That’s a lot of stuff this one thing is responsible for. In short, drink your water!

Now you are armed with an arsenal of fantastic foods to keep you powered up all day long. Try them out and see how they make you feel.